Hey guys, the title is wonky but I tried to describe it as efficiently as I could. I moved the details after the questions in case they aren't necessary, since this post got a bit long (hopefully it's warranted though, I provided every detail I have about the situation since these issues can be finicky).
Interface/output details: The interface I'm using only supports unbalanced RCA output to monitors, so I can't just use balanced TRS cables, but I've heard a balanced output would solve this problem (Found a forum post where some guy had noise when he moved his mouse around and stuff, discussion immediately went to balancing output and stayed there). I've heard unbalanced RCA to balanced TRS will not balance the output, and someone suggested a "Stereo Direct Interface." Also, outlet-wise I have one strip powering my two monitors, laptop charger (Running in desktop mode and never moved), and a lamp that isn't used most of the day. Only thing plugged into this outlet, although like I said this house's electricity appears to be janky as fuck.
--Questions: I would prefer not to have to get and spend the money, but I can if I absolutely need to, although my budget almost definitely could not exceed $100. Anyways, my main questions are these:
1. Should a "stereo direct interface" help with my problem?
2. Is this a replacement for an audio interface? The way it seems to me is that you would run unbalanced RCA cables from my interface into the direct interface and then run balanced TRS cables from there into the monitors. Is that correct?
3. I don't know if they've always done this - as far as I can remember - although there's a chance they just weren't doing it quite as badly and I didn't notice. Usually there is a good bit of noise in my house but lately it's been pretty quiet and I haven't been using my fan constantly, so it's much easier to hear. If this hadn't been happening, but is now, could it be a result of damage to the monitors? If it's hard to tell what would your hunch be, and how could I diagnose it further?
4. Are there any alternatives to balancing an unbalanced RCA output without buying a ~$60 "stereo direct interface" box (I keep saying stereo because I've read you'd need two regular direct interface boxes if you don't get a stereo one)?
5. Would a balanced output solve a ground loop? If not, how can I determine which issue it is? Money isn't something I have remotely easy access to so I need cheap and efficient solutions.
Problem, details, & possible causes: Anyways, the electricity in this old-ass house is pretty fuck-y. For instance, people can't turn on the fan in our bathroom while my monitors are on or they'll pop pretty badly. Almost had these monitors for a year now, and fairly lately I have been starting to get a quiet humming with some louder buzzes/noise seemingly randomly but mainly whenever I do things such as moving my mouse/scrolling, typing, and anything like that.
I have also been guilty of blasting these monitors every now and then, but haven't done it in a while and lately have had my computer's volume permenently down halfway. When I unplug the cables from my monitors, they have a veeeery slight "rushing/calm" white noise at most but do not have any of the problems I get right now.
Gear: Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface, PreSonus Eris E5 monitors, aging i7 laptop (PC).
Submitted October 15, 2017 at 03:06AM by st-tches https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/76hdsj/using_a_direct_interface_to_balance_interfaces/?utm_source=ifttt